Paper holder and adjustable masking device for photocopying



June 26, 1951 R. H. DAVIES 2,558,672

PAPER HOLDER AND ADJUSTABLE MASKING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING Filed Feb. 10, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1951 R. H. DAVIES 2,553,672

PAPER HOLDER AND ADJUSTABLE MASKING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10. 1948 ENTOR tales ATTORNEYS R. H. DAVIES PAPER HOLDER AND ADJUSTABLE MASKING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING June 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1948 INVENTOR R. ..Da v i e s @141 wall ATTOR N Y! June 26, 1951 R. H. DAVIES 2,553,672 PAPER HOLDER AND ADJUSTABLE MASKING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 10, 1948 INVENTOR ATTOIN IY Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER HOLDER AND ADJUSTABLE MASK- ING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING 5 Claims. 1 This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved paper holder and ad- Justable masking device for photocopying.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic paper holder and masking device, as above, which is especially designed for use in making composite photographic prints by projection; especially the reproduction on a single sheet of vital portions of, for example, a legal document. In the title insurance business photocopying is being used to considerable extent to reproduce, on a relatively small and uniform scale, and as a composite print, the vital portions of recorded legal documents such as deeds, etc. The present device greatly facilitates such repro duction.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device, for the purpose described, which includes a novel holder for the photographic paper; such holder being constructed so that the paper can be placed in, or removed from the holder, quickly and with ease; the paper, when engaged in the holder, being automatically framed.

It is also an object to provide a device which includes a novel masking assembly comprising individual masks mounted for manual and selective movement in a manner to greatly expedite the production of composite photographic prints.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical and convenient paper holder and masking device for photocopying, and a device which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with the parts thereof in starting position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section taken through the platen assembly.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken through the platen assembly, and illustrating the, longitudinally movable masks as spaced for an initial projection.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device illustrating said masks in the same position as in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the trailing longitudinally movable mask as advanced after an initial projection, and preparatory to re-adjustment of the parts for the next projection of the composite print. 7

Figure '7 is a plan view of the device showing the manner of use of the transversely movable masks.

Figure 8 is a plan view, on reduced scale, of the device with all the masks removed.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged section on line 99 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises a shallow box-like frame I of elongated configuration, such frame including, adjacent but short of its upper edges, a flat longitudinal bed 2 having a rectangular, elongated opening 3 therethrough centrally of its ends; such opening 3 being of lesser width than the bed 2. The opening 3 is symmetrical to but slightly smaller than each rectangular sheet 4 of projection type photographic printing paper with which the device is intended to be used. The device must be used with a sheet of projection printing paper of predetermined and relatively exact dimensions.

Directly below the rectangular, elongated opening 3, the box-like frame I is formed with a recess 5 symmetrical to said opening but of slightly greater size whereby the edgeS of the bed 2, about the opening 3, overhang the recess 5 as paper retention flanges 6. V

A platen 1 works vertically with a relatively close running fit in the rectangular recess 5, being urged upwardly toward engagement with the flanges 6 by a relatively large diameter helical spring 8 engaged between the central portion of said platen and the bottom of the box-like frame I.

To secure a sheet 4 of photographic printing paper in the device, such sheet is layed in register with opening 3 and atop \the platen 1, and

' then both the sheet and platen are depressed by hand until said sheet snaps through the opening 3 and engages at the edges under the paper retention flanges 6. The hand is then released whereupon the platen I is spring-urged upwardly holding the paper flat on the platen and retained at the edges by the flanges 6.

The printing paper 4 is placed in the device with the emulsion upwardly and after a composite image has been projected on the paper, section by section, in the manner hereinafter described in detail, such paper is removed from the device as follows:

After a projection operation is complete the sheet of photographic printing paper 4, together with the supporting platen 1, are both depressed against the action of spring 8 as far as possible and then the paper is manually slid laterally toward one side of the frame I, whence said paper escapes from the latter through a transversely extending tapered slot 9 in one side of said frame.

It will thus be recognized that initial insertion of a sheet 4 of photographic print paper into the device, and its subsequent removal therefrom, can be accomplished manually, quickly, and with ease.

The device incorporates a novel adjustable mask assembly, to the end that composite photographic prints can be made easily with step by step exposures, such adjustable mask assembly comprising the following structural arrangement:

Mounted atop the flat bed 2 are a pair of rectangular masks; the leading and trailing masks being indicated at It) and I l, respectively.

The masks l and H are slidable lengthwise on the bed 2; the combined length of such masks, when in end to end engagement, being considerably less than the length of said bed whereby the masks can play or be adjusted along the bed as will hereinafter apear.

The masks l0 and II are full width of the bed 2, and the upstanding side edges l2 of the box-like frame I are in the form, above the bed, of hold-down flanges, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, which over-ride adjacent portions of the masks to maintain the same against upward displace ment from the bed but without limiting their sliding movement lengthwise therealong.

The adjacent working edges of the leading rrask l0 and trailing mask ll are indicated at l3 and M, respectively. When both of the masks l0 and II are in their starting position, as in Fig. 1, and with their working edges l3 and H4 in abutment, the line of abutment I5 is in vertical alinement with the edge of the top paper retention flange 6.

The words top and bottom, as used herein, are by reference to corresponding parts of the sheet of printing paper 4 in the device; the top of said sheet being that part adjacent the mask I! when the latter is in its starting position.

A transversely extending, longitudinally movable slide IB is mounted on the box-like frame I for motion lengthwise of the device and normally rests on top of the mask 10, such slide [6 including a locating notch H which engages over one upstanding edge l2 of the frame as a guide. The slide I6 is of transparent material bevelled on its front or working edge, as shown at 18, and provides what may be termed a slight gauge.

During the making of a composite print, the slide I6 is moved progressively downward as will hereinafter appear; there being a stop finger IS on the side of frame I to limit downward motion of the slide to a predetermined point, the stop finger l9 then abutting the back edge of the slide. In this position of the slide I6, said slide overlies a transverse, bottom-end strip 411 of the photographic paper 4 in the device, and its working edge l8 alines with the front end of said bottom end strip 4a. The step finger I9 is depressible to a release position to permit of further downward movement of the slide I6 to a point where another and upstanding stop 2| is engaged. In this position the slide 15 is clear of said bottom end strip 4a of the paper and the working edge 88 of said slide alines with the bottom paper retention flange 6.

Relatively narrow, elongated masks 22 are carried in normally outwardly retracted, but transversely inwardly adjustable relation, in guide frames 23 which project laterally from opposite sides of the frame I in alinement with said bottom end strip 4a of the paper 4. The sides of the frame I are slotted, as at 24, to permit the masks 22 to be shifted or slid transversely inwardly in selective overlying relation to said transverse, bottom-end strip 4a of the paper 4 in the device.

is fully lapped, protecting the paper 4 from any exposure. The frame I is disposed directly below a photographic projector (not shown), and in such position that images may be projected onto the platen supported paper 4, but which is now fully masked.

Using a legal document as an example, and

wherein it is desired to produce a composite print comprised only of selected parts of the document, such parts are successively projected onto the paper 4 in spaced relation; the successive exposures being accomplished without overlapping or re-exposure by the following manipulation of the mask assembly:

The first selected part of the document is projected onto the leading mask l0; said mask, as well as the mask ll, having border or guide lines 25 thereon for the purpose of proper transverse location of the image. The device is also adjusted so that the top of the image of the first selected part of the document is adjacent the line IS. The slide I6 is then moved downwardly, as a sight gauge, until the working edge 18 reads directly below the bottom of the image of the first selected part of the document.

The projector is then turned off and leading mask I0 is slid downward beneath the slide i6 until the working edge I3 of said mask H] alines with the working edge l8 of the pre-set slide Hi. This alinement is automatically accomplished by a downwardly projecting nub 26 on the bottom of the slide which falls into a matching receiving notch 2'! in the mask I!) when the aforementioned edges aline. This position of the parts is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5; the spacing between the working edges l3 and 14 of the masks I0 and II then being exactly correct [or the eXposure of said first selected part of the document, and the projector is turned on to make such exposure.

After the first exposure the trailing mask ll is shifted downwardly to cover the first exposed part of the paper 4; i. e., until the working edge I4 of said trailing mask ll again abuts the working edge [3 of the leading mask [0, as at 23 in Fig. 6.

An image of each successive selected part of the document is thus projected onto the paper 4 with the exposures in spaced relation. The masking operation for each step is accomplished in exactly the same manner as described above for the first step, namely, the initial locating of the projected image, the setting of the slide it, the opening of the leading mask l0, and the exposure of the paper followed by closing of the trailing mask ll over the portion of the paper so exposed.

These successive exposures are made from the top of the paper 4 downwardly until the slide abuts the stop finger I9, which indicates to the operator that the paper 4 is all exposed except the transverse, bottom strip 4a.

The operator then trips the stop I!) and shifts the slide l6 downwardly until the stop 21 is engaged, at which time said slide is clear of the strip 411. Also, at this time the adjacent working edges of the masks l0 and II are spaced so as to register with opposite edges of said strip 4a, as in Fig. 7.

The transversely movable masks 22 are adjustable for exposures at different points along the transverse bottom strip 40, as illustrated in said Fig. '7; said strips being brought into end to end abutment between such exposures for the purpose of permitting the initial and proper location of the images. The transverse bottom strip la is, in practice, intended to have exposed thereon those parts of a legal document which are relatively small in size, such as recording or filing stamps, and the reproduction of other and smaller parts of a document.

It is contemplated that the projection will be made from a microfilm type of negative, the negative having previously been made from the actual document. However, in certain adaptations it is possible that the document itself would be used in the projector and the latter arranged so that selected parts of said document could be projected, full scale or on a reduced scale.

After the composite exposure has been made on each sheet of photographic printing paper 4, including the transverse bottom strip 4a, the masks I0 and II, as well as the mask 22, are shifted clear of the opening 3. With the parts in this position the operator can readily depress the platen I, with the sheet 4 thereon,'and discharge said sheet laterally of the device through the slot 9.

'The arrangement of parts of the device, including the paper holder, as well as the movable masks, is such that composite prints can be made rapidly andas a smooth and efficient operation. The operator soon learns the sequence of movement of the parts so that it is easy to locate an exposure and mask the successive sections of the composite print.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such 7 lowing is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A paper holder and adjustable masking device for photocopying, comprising a frame, a bed on the frame, the bed having means associated therewith to releasably secure a sheet of photographic paper fiat relative to the bed for exposure, and a mask assembly mounted in connection with the bed for movement therealong overlying the sheet of paper; the mask assembly including a pair of separate masks both movable along a predetermined path over the sheet of paper, and a gauge mounted in connection with the frame for movement above the mask assembly and along the same path; said gauge having the frame for movement above the mask assembly and along the same path; said gauge having a portion readable on one of said masks and there being means to locate said one of the masks in a predetermined position relative to the sight gauge after pre-setting of the latter.

3. A paper holder and adjustable masking device for photocopying, comprising a longitudinal frame, a bed on the frame extending lengthwise thereof, the bed having an opening therein symmetrical to a sheet of photographic paper, means to releasably secure a sheet of such paper over the opening from below for exposure, and a pair of rectangular masks mounted for movement along the bed [in selective masking relation to said sheet of paper; there being a slide mounted for movement along the bed above the masks, said slide including a transverse sighting edge readable atop one mask, and means to limit motion of said one mask relative to the slide and in a direction away from the other mask, said means being a cooperating nub and notch on adjacent parts of the slide and said one mask.

4. A paper holder and adjustable masking device for photocopying, comprising a longitudinal frame, a bed on the frame extending lengthwise thereof, the bed having an opening therein symmetrical to a sheet of photographic paper, means to releasably secure a sheet of such paper over the opening from below for exposure, a pair of rectangular masks mounted for movement along the bed in selective masking relation to said sheet of paper from end to end thereof, another pair of masks mounted for movement transversely of the bed and across the sheet of paper from opposite sides, and a slide mounted for movement along the bed above the first named or longitudinally movable pair of masks, said slide including a transverse sighting edge readable atop one of said longitudinally movable masks.

5. A paper holder and adjustable masking device for photocopying, comprising a longitudinal frame, a bed on the frame extending lengthwise thereof, the bed having an opening therein symmetrical to a sheet of photographic paper, means to releasably secure a sheet of such paper over the opening from below for exposure, a pair of rectangular masks mounted for movement along the bed in selective masking relation to said sheet of paper from end to end thereof, another pair of masks mounted for movement transversely of the bed and across the sheet of paper from opposite sides, a slide mounted for movement along the bed above the first named or longitudinally movable pair of masks, said slide including a transverse sighting edge readable atop one of said longitudinally movable masks, and means to limit motion of said one mask relative to the slide and in a direction away from the other mask.

RAYMOND H. DAVIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,277,318 Johnson Aug. 27, 1918 1,612,832 Powers Jan. 4, 1927 1,835,340 Satterlee Dec. 8, 1931 1,841,811 Hershberg Jan. 19, 1932 1,892,683 Robertson Jan. 3, 1933 2,254,125 Tarullo Aug. 26, 1941 2,256,894 Chadkin Sept. 25, 1941 2,300,264 Morin Oct. 27, 1942 

